Although she was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and spent most of her career in southern California, in 2006 Lynn moved to Mt. Airy, North Carolina, the town which served as the inspiration for Griffith’s Mayberry.
After a number of bit parts in films like “Cheaper by the Dozen” and small roles in TV series including “Disneyland,” Lynn first appeared as Thelma Lou in 1961.
Her character was often flustered by the tightly-wound personality of boyfriend Barney Fife, played by Don Knotts, but they continued to date throughout most of the series.
After two decades of on-again, off-again romance, they finally married in the reunion TV movie “Return to Mayberry” in 1986, the characters’ final appearance together on screen.